Blue Forests Project’s Posts on ExposureNEWS BLOGhttp://news.gefblueforests.org
Marine life – deep sea heroes fighting climate changeMost efforts to address carbon emissions focus on land-based solutions such as conserving or replanting forests. However, marine life may be unlikely heroes in our fight against climate change and in avoiding the major global disasters warned of in the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).To raise awareness about the exciting role ocean life plays combatting climate change, a Fish Carbon short video has been produced by; UN Environment/GRID-Arendal and Blue Climate Solutions, a project of The Ocean Foundation, with support from the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI), Norwegian Government and The Curtis &amp; Edith Munson Foundation. These partners have also produced an Oceanic Blue Carbon story map, which illustrates the various fish carbon mechanisms and the latest scientific research on the subject.]]>
Tue, 23 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0200https://news.gefblueforests.org/marine-life-deep-sea-heroes-fighting-climate-change
https://news.gefblueforests.org/marine-life-deep-sea-heroes-fighting-climate-changeOasis dreamingBlue forests Djibouti - the Global Environment Facility has supported the restoration of mangrove forests to provide fishing communities a buffer for important ecosystems and help them adapt to climate change.]]>
Fri, 19 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0200https://news.gefblueforests.org/oasis-dreaming
https://news.gefblueforests.org/oasis-dreamingNature-based solutionsNature is a powerful ally in tackling climate change. Yet it does not receive the attention it deserves in the debate about how to accomplish a transition towards a zero net emission society. Natural ecosystems such as forests, soils and peatlands are the most sophisticated and effective solution we have for capturing and storing CO2, writes Luc Bas, Director, IUCN European Regional Office.To limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to achieve the EU net zero carbon emissions target for 2050 as proposed by the European Parliament, the largescale removal of CO2 from the atmosphere will be absolutely crucial.The Paris Agreement emphasises the role of ecosystems in both climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Agreement calls on countries to appropriately conserve and enhance natural carbon sinks and reservoirs of all types – biomass, forests and oceans as well as other terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems – in order to fully harness their mitigation potential. It acknowledges the key role of sinks in achieving the goal of reaching climate neutrality, i.e. zero net emissions, in the second half of the century, and recognises that socioeconomic and ecological resilience can be built through the sustainable management of natural resources.Disruptive approaches to climate change mitigation such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, have been discussed as one potential way to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. However, indications are that this approach would consume land on an enormous scale and lead to large-scale land-use changes in tropical regions with weak governance, high biodiversity and high terrestrial carbon stock.A recent study by the Nature Conservancy on natural climate solutions explores opportunities to reduce emissions and store carbon in the world’s forests, grasslands and wetlands, the enormous potential of which is being demonstrated thanks to remote sensing technologies. The publication states that, worldwide, natural climate solutions could reduce emissions by 11.3 billion tonnes per year by 2030, and thus deliver 37% of cost-effective CO2 mitigation by 2030.]]>
Mon, 15 Oct 2018 08:15:38 +0200https://news.gefblueforests.org/naturebased-solutions
https://news.gefblueforests.org/naturebased-solutionsBeyond Blue Carbonby Alicia Medina Villanueva &amp; Juliane VatterWhen talking about mangroves, the funny looking trees with entangled roots living in the coasts of tropical and subtropical regions, there is so much you can say! First of all, there are around 80 described species of these incredibly versatile and tough plants. Some of them can handle tidal soakings and grow in the open sea, in sheltered bays, and on fringe islands. Other species of trees are adapted to drier, saltier soil and can be found farther from the shoreline, whereas some other mangroves thrive along riverbanks far inland, as long as the freshwater current is met by ocean tides. One of the features that make mangroves unique is that they can live in water up to 100 times saltier than most other plants can tolerate. They do this by filtering out the salt of the seawater that surrounds them in their routes and storing water in their leaves.]]>
Tue, 09 Oct 2018 13:35:22 +0200https://news.gefblueforests.org/beyond-blue-carbon-1
https://news.gefblueforests.org/beyond-blue-carbon-1Climate change is wiping out the secret to Fiji’s international rugby successNamatakula is a small village in Fiji found on a long stretch of the country’s most beautiful coastline: the Coral Coast. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists flock from around the world to this 80 kilometre stretch of white sand and turquoise water.But the village of only 2,522 inhabitants is known for more than its sun and sand. This tiny place has also produced some of the best rugby players in the world. Nemani Nadolo and two brothers, Chris and Tevita Kuridrani, grew up in the village and now play in the top leagues in France and Australia. Another local, retired winger Lote Tuqiri, is a household name in both Australia and Fiji, having represented both nations in international competition.Fiji is one of the few countries in the world where rugby is an official national sport. About 4.3 per cent of the population are registered rugby players, the highest ratio of any nation. Fiji punches well above its weight in international competition, most recently winning the gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.]]>
Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:23:38 +0200https://news.gefblueforests.org/climate-change-is-wiping-out-the-secret-to-fijis-international-rugby-success
https://news.gefblueforests.org/climate-change-is-wiping-out-the-secret-to-fijis-international-rugby-successCloud computing to speed up stocktaking of Northwest Pacific blue carbon sinksCloud computing technology can speed up the assessment of Northwest Pacific seagrass beds which nurture biodiversity, purify seawater and mitigate climate change but are threatened by human activities and natural disasters, says a study by the UN Environment Regional Seas Programme in the region.Ten species of seagrass reported in the Northwest Pacific seas that border Japan, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation are included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list of threatened species, according to the Feasibility Study Towards Assessment of Seagrass Distribution in the NOWPAP Region. The study was published by the Toyama-based Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre, which was set up under the UN Environment Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region.]]>
Thu, 27 Sep 2018 09:23:16 +0200https://news.gefblueforests.org/cloud-computing-to-speed-up-stocktaking-of-northwest-pacific-blue-carbon-sinks
https://news.gefblueforests.org/cloud-computing-to-speed-up-stocktaking-of-northwest-pacific-blue-carbon-sinksInternational Endorsement of “Whale Carbon”Nations recognize ocean conservation as a measure to combat climate changeIn a surprising decision at last week’s meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), ocean conservation was supported as a measure to combat climate change.Endorsed by 41 of 71 nations, two resolutions at the IWC meeting in Florianópolis, Brazil, highlighted the potential role whales play in retaining carbon in the ocean and helping to reduce the effects of climate change. This endorsement was surprising and welcomed by civil society, because it has broad potential implications for the management of marine resources, and could be a significant opportunity to combine ocean conservation with climate action. The resolutions and relevant passages follow:Resolution on Advancing the Commission’s Work on the Role of Cetaceans in the Ecosystem Functioning – This resolution commends the IWC’s “Scientific and Conservation Committee for their efforts to increase understanding of the contribution of cetaceans to ecosystem functioning.” This is a reference to a resolution endorsed by 36 nations and passed at the 66th meeting of the IWC in 2016, which asked the IWC’s Scientific Committee to research how whale conservation may help mitigate climate change. The current resolution also encourages the IWC to seek synergies and collaborations on this issue. It further encourages member states “to integrate the value of cetaceans’ ecological roles into local, regional, and global organisations on biodiversity and environment, including climate change.”The Florianópolis Declaration – This resolution focused on the role of the IWC in the conservation and management of whales in the 21st century. Relevant to whales and climate change, the resolution recognizes that the role of the IWC has evolved to include “the maintenance of healthy cetacean populations to fulfil the vital ecological and carbon cycling roles these animals play in the global marine ecosystem functioning.”]]>
Thu, 20 Sep 2018 10:31:21 +0200https://news.gefblueforests.org/international-endorsement-of-whale-carbon
https://news.gefblueforests.org/international-endorsement-of-whale-carbonBeyond Blue Carbonby Maria Belen Vallejo]]>
Tue, 18 Sep 2018 11:52:52 +0200https://news.gefblueforests.org/beyond-blue-carbon
https://news.gefblueforests.org/beyond-blue-carbonFighting climate change with whale conservationMounting scientific evidence is showing how Earth’s largest organisms can join forces with some of the smallest to combat climate change. This unlikely pairing is between some of the largest and tiniest life in the ocean, whales and phytoplankton. They work together through a process called the whale pump. The end result? Removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which helps to mitigate climate change. Recognition of this value and other important ecological values that whales naturally support are gaining global attention at venues such as the International Whaling Commission (IWC) biennial meeting which begins next week.]]>
Mon, 10 Sep 2018 10:03:10 +0200https://news.gefblueforests.org/fighting-climate-change-with-whale-conservation
https://news.gefblueforests.org/fighting-climate-change-with-whale-conservation